Happy new year!

Happy new year everybody!

Before you start reading this, you should know, this will NOT be one of those articles about how good or shit 2012 has been, and how much better 2013 will be. I've never been one for new years resolutions or anything like that, I've always felt that if something in your life is worth changing, why wait until the 1st of January to do so?

So with that in mind, let us continue!

2012 has had a lot in store for me. Some awesome times, some shit ones, just like every other year for every other person in the world really! I really do hope from the bottom of my heart that everybody reading this has had a good 2012 with minimal regrets and that you all have a great 2013.

But that being said, don't just expect the magic of new years eve to stroll in and fix your life up for you! Because it doesn't work like that, I think this is as good a time as any to remind people that anything you want has to be earned and worked hard for. So keep that in mind when moving through this next year!

So as I'm sure you have gathered, I will NOT be making a new years resolution. That doesn't mean I'm perfectly happy and everything's perfect, it just means I'm not going to be one of millions of people in the world trying to stop smoking or eat less chocolate, or go to the gym more. If there's a change I want making I'll make it on my own time!

I don't know what 2013 will be like for me, for all I know this time next year I could be married with a kid on the way! Or I could be stood on Northumberladn street selling big issues. And isn't that the fun of it all? Not knowing what's coming, not knowing wether a decision you're making is going to have a positive or negative impact on your life? Those are the moments which make us all feel alive, those brief moments of weakness, and helplessness. And that's how I'm living my life now, thriving off those situations and making the most of everything I have, because I really don't know how long they be around for.

But regardless of all that, have a great night tonight, and have a great 2013!

I'm now off to play my final gig of the year in my home town with people I grew up with.

Gan canny everybody!

Stephen

xxx

I'd also like to add that my entire set tonight will be dedicated to the memory of my great gran, Elsie Toon who sadly passed away this time 2 years ago. We'll never forget or stop loving you.

Idiots on Facebook.

Just a short one tonight/this morning.

Who are the walking advertisements for contraception who post things like "Like this if you wish cancer didn't exist" or "Like this is you love your children"? If your life is so dependant around gaining 'likes' on Facebook, you want to have a word with yourself.

Of course, like most people, I wish cancer didn't exist, and like most parents, I will always love my child, but in what way does clicking a button on some imbecile's photo or status, validate these claims?

Maybe I'm just making a fuss over nothing, maybe I'm being a miserable fucker, but the fact of the matter is, these are actual, human people. And for a being of the same species as people like Bob Marley, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King, this is depressing.

Have we, as humans, genuinely come to point where everything we say, or feel needs to be validated by some moron wanting more attention than they deserve? If so, maybe it's time for us all to take a look at ourselves. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks like this, and I highly doubt I'm the only one making a point out of it, but I still felt it needed to be talked about.

I know they're not doing any real harm, but it's just stupid, and I refuse to accept that these people will be the forerunners of a generation of human beings. Can't we just knock that generation on the head and consider it a write off? Maybe try better at raising the next one? Probably not.

And now, I will step down from my soapbox, calm the fuck down, and go to sleep.

Apologies to anyone who posts such things, who may have been offended, but surprisingly enough, I don't care.

Gan canny.

Stephen

x

The new old me.

Don't ask how, but I woke up this morning with a smile on my face. And that smile hasn't gone anywhere.

I admit I could just still be drunk, judging the state I was in last night. (Apologies to my mackem friends who in the early hours of the morning received a call of me singing geordie boot boys.) However, this being said, I seem to be seeing the world through rose tinted glasses today. I don't know wether I'll wake up tomorrow and be my old miserable self, but I really hope not, because  TODAY, I am happy.

And why shouldn't I be? I live in a nice house, I have a loving family, good friends, a decent way of making money, and last but certainly not least, the most amazing little boy on the planet.

I just realised, I'm 21 years old living in one of my favourite places on earth (Not Willington, let's go with Durham) and I have it pretty good. So, for now, I feel like I'm the old Stephen again, looking at everything and seeing an opportunity, not a threat. Like I said, it's early days so I don't know if this is here to stay or will be gone tomorrow. But today is going to be a good day, I can feel it.

To all of my friends and family who supported me through thick and thin, thank you, and I love you all.

And Isaac, I love you more than anything on this earth, and I will spend my time on this earth trying to make you understand that. <3

Bye for now folks.

Gan Canny.

Stevie C luvin lyf 2k12 innit.

The wall.

There comes a time in every mans life, where he hits a wall. A wall which is such a challenge to climb, that it defines his entire being. Today, I hit that wall.

This, is my story. But in order for it to be successfully told, I feel the following music must be played while you are reading.

Yesterday I was practicing with my new(er) band Lost In Paradise (www.facebook.com/LostInParadiseUK) and today when we woke up we felt the best course of action would be to head to Durham for some food, having not eaten since the gargantuan McDonalds the night before. We didn't know it yet, but this was to be a huge mistake.

Think you could tackle this? Think again.

Every monday, the Slug and Lettuce in Durham city centre offers 50% off all food, so this was to be our destination. On a normal day, we would each order a steak and be happy, but today was to be no normal day. We each ordered a steak as usual, but we added two ultimate platters, which anyone familiar with the Slug and Lettuce's menu will understand to be of mammoth proportions. The food came and all was perfect, we felt confident, we felt strong, we felt legendary. If only we knew what we had gotten ourselves into.

Defeat. Painful defeat.

As you can see, there was a pretty large amount of food, however, we underestimated just how much.
It started well, we ate, we laughed, we ate some more. The first 3 quarters of the food was no challenge (for all but Joe, who is a pathetic excuse of a man) and we were almost certain we would be able to leave with our heads held high, employees and customers cheering and screaming our names, but it was not to be. We first started to doubt ourselves when we hit the 3 quarter mark, and it only got worse from there. To the left you can see the remnants of our challenge

One ring to rule them all.

In the end for me, it came down to one onion ring (right), taunting me and taunting me. No matter how much I tried to build up the courage to do so, I could not defeat it. It was proved a worthy opponent, and today, it has defeated me, and will enjoy its victory. But this is not over. Not by a long shot.

For shame.

After I left, I held on to only one slight consolation, at least I wasn't reduced to a smilar state as this broken shell of a man. Joe (left) was defeated by pretty much everything, and afterwards looked not only ill, but terminally so. Still, nothing a pint couldn't fix.

I end this tale with a lesson, though you may leave a battle bruised and tired, and in this case a fair bit heavier, never be afraid to return to a challenge. Just because something is challenging, it doesn't mean it isn't worth attempting, it just means it will feel a hell of a lot better when you finally succeed. And god help me, I will succeed.  Oh yes, I will succeed.


Until next time lads and lasses, gan canny!

(A battle scarred) Stephen

x

FREE! (Until september)

Well hello again.

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much, I've been frantically working to finish this year of uni. Finally handed everything in yesterday, which was a HUGE weight off my shoulders.

So yes ladies and gents I am a free man until september! This means I can finally start focussing on Work In Progress, quite ironically really considering my work is now finished. I thought I would post the track listing up here and give a bit of an update on what's going on. The tracks on the album will be;

1. Heart Attack
2. September
3. City Life
4. Dreamer
5. 88mph

I understand this will mean absolutely NOTHING to the vast majority of you, but I think these are the 5 songs I am most happy with. Well, with the exception of Heart Attack, which may get replaced at some point. It's one of those songs you write, and are really excited about, until you listen to it back a few days later and you wonder what in gods name you were smoking to write such an abomination. Okay, I'm not that unhappy with it, but I will definitely be changing it quite a bit before I put the CD out there.

Now, about that update, All of the tracks (with the exception of the new version of Heart Attack) have been recorded and are sounding okay. BUT, I have come into some new recording equipment from my birthday so I'm considering recording a lot of it again, the sound quality will be a LOT better, and those of you know me know that I am a perfectionist with my music. Some of the songs will probably just be remastered as opposed to rerecorded, so it shouldn't take too long at all.

Once I've done all of this, and I am happy with it, it will be going up on iTunes, and everything like that. I'll also be printing a few copies to sell at my gigs. Then i'll give it a few months before I start recording a full album (you heard it here first). I'll be pulling in a band and writing some new songs, in addition to a few from Work in Progress which will be rearranged.

As always I'll keep you all up to date with what's happening, so keep your eyes peeled!

Gan canny lads and lasses!

Stephen

x

The future of evolution, courtesy of Ryan Gosling.

So apparently Ryan Gosling is just growing more and more awesome with every waking second.

A story just emerged that the irritatingly brilliant 'Drive' actor saved London journalist Laurie Penny from an oncoming taxi in America.

Clearly he needs to cross the atlantic to now make sure us British folk stand no chance of finding a girl.

I have therefore taken it upon myself to take a glimpse into the future, and where the human race will end up if Ryan Gosling continues to be awesome,

I will now explain this in 5 simple steps.

The future of evolution.

1. Ryan Gosling makes it so no other male stands a chance with any female.

2. Ryan Gosling impregnates every female in existence.

3. 80% of other males fail to find parters and eventually die out due to loneliness.

4. The offspring of Ryan Gosling eventually kills off the remaining species.

5. Humanity continues as a race of Ryan's and Rihanna's.

I think this is pretty accurate. So my message to Ryan gosling is simply this;

"If you care at all about the human race, you will

 limit your awesomeness for the sake of the rest of us"

Oh yeah, and...

"WHY CAN'T I HATE YOU!?"

That is all.

Gan canny!

Stephen.

Forgot I had a blog...

No seriously, I forgot I had a blog, had a fair bit going on and it slipped my mind. My apologies on the lack of me talking bollocks!

I've learned a few important life lessons over the last few weeks or so, which I would like to share with you if you would be so kind as to lend me your ears!

1. Being in a band is cooler than being a solo artist.

I have realised recently how much I've missed playing in a band, and more specifically, slapping da bass in a band! I'm sure most of you now know that I've joined the awesome Moonlight Valentino on bass duties, and it's going class. This is one of the things I've been busy with, we've had a few gigs recently, and also I've been writing a lot of new tunes for us, which you can expect to hear very soon! Go to http://www.facebook.com/MoonlightValentino to keep updated on everything!

2. EVERYTHING is better in the sun.


Leaving out the obvious exceptions such as skiing and building snowmen and shit, before someone starts getting all smart. The sun truly does make everything happy, Newcastle has been lush over the last few days, and I'm making the most out of every second. My gigs with college were on monday and tuesday, and the time that wasn't spent sound checking or actually playing, was spent sitting outside with a pint, and chillaxing! BRING ON THE SUMMER AND FESTIVAL SEASON! Ukulele weather if I have ever seen it.

3. I will always regret going out and not wearing a suit.


I've had a couple of cool nights out recently, but they were missing one very important thing; A SUIT! Seriously, is there any item of clothing that makes you feel as instantly awesome as you do when you put on a well tailored suit? In the words of Barney Stinson "Nothing suits me like a suit".

4. Grab every possible opportunity with both hands.


So there have been a few times in recent years I have passed on some opportunities and regretted it almost instantly. I recently read the book 'Yes Man' by Danny Wallace and it really did teach me that opportunity really is out there, you just need to be willing to let it into your life. For those of you who don't know, the book is about Danny Wallace, who decides to say 'yes' to every opportunity which presents itself. I don't want to spoil the book because I really do recommend you read it, it won't be everyones cup of tea, but it is rare that a book has the genuine ability to change someones life. Imagine what you want to do with your life, now do everything in your power to make it happen. If you are sitting around on your arse watching repeats of Jeremy Kyle, scratching your balls and then wondering why you never got anywhere, you only have yourself to blame. Get out there and do what it is you want to do! I could probably write a full blog post on this, and I might even do it at some time, but for now, I'll stop here.

So yeah, I'll try not to forget that I have a blog in future, and I'll keep posting as much as I can!

Gan canny!

Ste